HOUSE . • . . No. 1372 



Cl)e Commontoeaiti) of ^a00acJ)U0ett0» 



SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COM- 
IMISSION APPOINTED TO IDENTIFY THE GRAVES 
OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF MASSACHUSETTS 
^YHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY 
IN FRANCE AND IN OTHER FOREIGN COUN- 
TRIES DURING THE WORLD WAR; AND "TO 
INQUIRE INTO THE WISDOM OF CONSTRUCTION 
BY THE COIMMONWEALTH, IN FRANCE OR 
ELSEWHERE, OF A MONUMENT OR OTHER 
SUITABLE MEMORIAL, IN COMINIEJMORATION OF 
MASSACHUSETTS CITIZENS WHOSE LIVES WERE 
SO GIVEN." 



To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives: 

Gextlemen: — On January 15, when this Commission made 
its report to the General Court, it reported "progress" upon 
the last clause of its instructions, and asked, and obtained 
later, an extension of time to March 15 within which to com- 
plete its findings. These are as follows: — 

The Commission has given thoughtful consideration to the 
duty imposed by this portion of the act. The wisdom of con- 
structing a memorial in France to those citizens of Massachu- 
setts who laid down their lives for their country would seem to 
have been determined by the acts of the Nation and of the 
several Commonwealths following the wars in which the 
country has been involved. W^e daily pass under the shadows 
of the monuments at Charlestown, Dorchester, Concord and 



2 HOUSE — No. 1372. Mar. 

Cambridge. In these and other places we are memorializing 
the valor ''even unto death" of the patriots of a century and 
a half ago. The Massachusetts heroes of the War of 1812, of 
the Mexican War, of the Civil War and of the Spanish War 
do not lack memorials of their services near where they served. 
They are not cemetery monuments. In the holy ground con- 
taining the remains of the heroic dead, • individual worth is 
recorded in the inscriptions upon the marble or bronze. It 
has been the custom of Massachusetts for over one hundred 
and fifty years, not only to follow her sons when enlisted in her 
service, but also to mark by enduring monuments the places 
where they have represented her in mortal combat. It may be 
assumed, then, that Massachusetts will in due time erect a 
monument or monuments in France, somewhere in the battle 
area; and the duty has been laid on this Commission to 
assemble the evidence in favor of a particular location. 

The United States em"olled into its service during the World 
War about 193,000 persons from Massachusetts. About 
150,000 of these were connected with the Army, approximately 
one-third of whom got into the fighting line with the 29 Ameri- 
can battle participation divisions. But in 5 of these divisions 
we have no report of Massachusetts men killed in action; 24 
is therefore probably the number of combat divisions in which 
Massachusetts men served. These were Regular Army divi- 
sions numbered 1 to 7, National Guard divisions numbered 2G 
to 30, 32, 37 and 42, and National Army divisions numbered 
77 to 82, 89, 90 and 91. The War Department lists many 
regiments and brigades of artillery as actively engaged in the 
difit'erent battles in addition to those that were attached to 
divisions, and an indefinite but considerable number of in- 
fantrymen absent without leave from units back of the lines, 
"deserters to the front." 

The Commission has carefully tabulated the number of 
Massachusetts soldiers of each combat division who were 
killed in action or were wounded. Comparing these with the 
government reports of the totals under these heads in the 
divisions, we are able to a])proximate the number of Massachu- 
setts men who were engaged in each of the 12 major battles 
of the American ArnivhiFrance. The Commission is of the 

OOOUMKnTb CJiViSION 



3 



1921.] '^A'' v^JIOUSE-No. 1372. 

opinion that when it has set down the occasion and the purpose 
of these operations, and the measure of accomplishment in 
each case, it will have justified in some degree its choice of the 
location of a Massachusetts monument. This tabulation ac- 
companies this report. 

Americans were used in defensive warfare from ^ Nov. 20, 
1917, at Gambrai, to the Chateau Thierry fight, beginning 
July 18, 1918. After that they took the offensive and held it 
up to the armistice, Nov. 11, 1918. The services of these 
divisions were not in any case confined to a single sector. 
The 1st Division was in the line in 9 different sectors, the 2d 
in 8 sectors, the 3d in 9 sectors, and the 26th in 8 sectors. 

If the number of killed and wounded in battle gives a proper 
basis for computations, besides the 26th, nine other divisions 
had from 1,000 to 7,000 Massachusetts men enrolled in them 
when formed, or by replacements. Because there were casual- 
ties of Massachusetts soldiers in each of 24 battle participation 
divisions, and because these divisions took part in all the major 
battles from Cambrai to Verdun, it would be suitable for the 
Commonwealth to e\ect a memorial in one or many places over 
an extended area. Indeed, she would be justified in erecting a 
monument to the devotion to duty and valor of a single one of 
her sons who, having accepted her mandate to carry her banner 
in a righteous cause, fell in the service. The quality of service 
unto death is the same whether one or a thousand pay the 
price. Defensive and offensive warfare are equally honorable. 
The Commission has no purpose to write a history of the 
World War or to apportion to companies, regiments or divisions 
their share in bringing the war, or any single movement, to a 
successful issue. But in placing the Massachusetts men in 
combat division's, and the divisions in the sectors where they 
must defend the line, at least, and endeavor to advance it when 
ordered to do so, we can claim for them a share of the glory 
that belongs to the event, and may call up the sentiments of 
gratitude for their achievement. We have given to the figures 
and computations we submit some influence in arriving at our 
decision, and we hope that they will be at least suggestive to 
the members of the General Court in putting a value upon our 
recommendations. .. 



4 HOUSE — No 1372. [Mar. 

When it went overseas, the 26th, or "Yankee Division," 
contained 13,041 Massachusetts men, as follows: — 

101st Infantry, 3,633 

102d Infantry, 100 

IGBcl Infantry, 548 

104th Infantry, 2,348 

Field Artillery, 3,004 

Machine Gun, 436 

Engineers, 625 

Signal, Train, etc., 2,347 



13,041 

About the same number of men came from the militia of other 
New England States. About 600 came from the draft, and 
the division was short by nearly 900 men, these being added in 
France. Officially its casualties were 2,1*35 battle deaths and 
11,325 wounded. Thirty per cent of the wounded came back 
into the line, but not all of them to the 26th Division. Re- 
placements came to the division up to November 4, in all 
probably amounting to 6,500 men, only a part of them Massa- 
chusetts boys. When the division returned from France about 
10,500 were from Massachusetts. The strength of an American 
division was 28,000 officers and men. The battle deaths of the 
Massachusetts men in the 26th Division were 1,135, and 
wounded, 7,719. In 13 of the 24 battle participation divisions, 
the number of killed in action were from 1 to 10 persons, in- 
dicating that the wounded in each of these was less than 100 
men, and the total of Massachusetts men connected with the 
division was not more than 600, depending largely upon the 
number of days the division was in battle participation and the 
arm of the service. Using percentages and approximations, 
out of the 150,000 Massachusetts men inducted into the army 
service, 48,975 saw fighting. 

Some of the particulars of the 12 major battles of the war, as 
connected with the participation of Massachusetts men in them, 
are set down in what follows: — 

(1) Cambrai, Nov. 20 to Dec. 4, 1917. 

About 2,500 American medical men and engineers, the 11th and 
12th, served with the British. They were not designated as 
parts of a division, and may have contained 100 men from 
Massachusetts. 



1921.] HOUSE — No. 1372. 5 

(2) Somme. 

A German offensive from March 21 to April 6, 1918. About 2,200 
American medical men, engineers, and air units served with the 
Australians. Again these were not designated as of a division, 
and may have contained 100 Massachusetts men. The drive 
was checked S miles out of Amiens. 

(3) River Lys. 

A German offensive from April 9 to April 27, 1918. About 500 
American medical men and air men had a part in it, of whom 
perhaps 20 were Massachusetts men. 

(4) Aisne. 

A German offensive from May 27 to June 5, 1918. The Chemin 
des Dames was overrun and Soissons taken. It stopped at 
Chateau Thierry; 27,500 troops from Divisions 2 and 3 took 
part. In the closing days of the movement the Americans re- 
took Vaux, Boureshes and Belleau. About 4,000 Massachu- 
setts men were participants. 

(5) Noyon-Montdidier. 

A German offensive from June 5 to June 15, 1918; 27,000 took 
part in it. The 1st Division just before this offensive had cap- 
tured Cantigny and held it firmly. At this time 1,000 Massa- 
chusetts men were in this division. 

(6) Champagne-Marne. 

A German offensive from July 15 to July 18, 1918. Of the 85,000 
Americans engaged, the 3d and 28th Divisions were fighting at 
Chateau Thierry, and the 26th and 42d were east in Cham- 
pagne. There were 23,000 Massachusetts men at this time in 
these divisions. 

(7) Aisne-Marne, "Chateau Thierry." 

An Allied offensive that flattened out the salient and made the 
line run straight from Soissons to Reims. It took place be- 
tween July 18 and August 6. There were 270,000 Americans 
engaged out of Divisions 1, 2, 3, 4, 26, 28, 32 and 42. Massa- 
chusetts furnished 23,450 men, of whom 700 were killed in 
action and 3,600 wounded. 

(8) Somme. 

An Alhed offensive from August 8 to November 11. Divisions 27, 
30 and part of 33 were engaged; 54,000 Americans, of whom 
225 were Massachusetts men, took part. The high point of the 
movement, which ended at the Belgian line, was the capture of 
Chipilly Ridge jointly with the Australians. 

(9) Oise-Aisne. 

An Allied offensive from August 18 to November 11. In only the 
earlier part of the drive, which on November 11 approached the 
Belgian line, were American Divisions 28, 32 and 77 employed. 
Then they were withdrawn to the Argonne. In these divisions 
were only 2,400 Massachusetts men out of 85,000 troops. 



6 HOUSE — No. 1372 [Mar. 

(10) Ypres-Lys. 

An Allied offensive from August 19 to November 11, There were 
108,000 Americans of Divisions 27, 30, 37 and 91 engaged, of 
whom 370 were from Massachusetts. 

(11) St. Mihiel. 

An Allied offensi^^e, the movement of which was almost whoUy by 
the 550,000 Americans of 15 divisions, 12 larger units of unat- 
tached artillery, 11 of engineers, 2 of pioneers, 2 of tanks, and 
14 of air planes. Massachusetts had 40,000 men in action, the 
casualties being not more than 29 dead and 75 wounded, out 
of a total of 7,000. 

(12) Meuse-Argonne. 

An American offensive September 20 to November 11. Every 
American di^dsion was in the hne or in reserve, — a total of 
1,200,000 men, 45,000 being from Massachusetts. There were 
120,000 casualties, 1,000 dead and 4,000 wounded from Massa- 
chusetts. The purpose was to keep as manj'' troops of the 
enemy as possible engaged, and to use them up. 

From the facts set forth the conclusion of the Commission 
is — 

First. — Massachusetts might with propriety erect its monu- 
ment at Hattonchattel, where the St. Mihiel drive terminated. 

Because, while the losses were inconsiderable, a great many 
Massachusetts men were engaged in the movement, and the 
battle has fixed its place of importance in the history of the 
war, and Vigneulles, on the plain of the Woe\Te just underneath, 
was the actual objective of many thousands of Massachusetts 
soldiers. 

Also, a monument at Hattonchattel would be in sight of the 
Toul-Boucq sector, Mont Sec and the hills above Apremont to 
the southeast, and Hattonville, Hannonville, Haumont and 
Waddonville to the northeast, and Thiaucourt to the east. 
Many Massachusetts soldiers have cause to remember these 
places as connected with their service. The inhabitants of 
Hattonchattel told members of the Commission that from the 
roof of the highest buildings even Verdun could be seen. 

Second. — Massachusetts might select a conspicuous point 
in the Chateau Thierry drive, as at Etrepilly plateau, for its 
monument. 

Because there were 30,000 Massachusetts men in this move- 
ment, which extended through a period of severe fighting. 



1921.] HOUSE — No. 1372. 7 

The American soldiers here first became conscious that they 
were better than their opponents. They actually drove the 
Germans from organized positions of great strength. Their 
losses were considerable, only less than from the protracted 
fighting in the Argonne, yet the morale was increased and no 
one was discouraged. 

To select Chateau Thierry would be to say, "Here was the 
crisis of the war and it was . passed successfully." No one 
doubted after August 1 that Germany could and would be 
defeated. 

Third, — The Meuse-Argonne offensive was Chateau Thierry 
on a very large scale. It was a stand-up fight, successful every 
day, but at the price of precious lives in large numbers. The 
word from the front was always, "We have taken our ob- 
jective, but the boys are suffering terribly." These days the 
American lines extended 100 miles, and more than 40,000 
Massachusetts men helped to hold it and push it forward. 
Death's Valley and other places of desperate fighting stand out 
prominently in the minds of American soldiers. 

The Commission is unanimous that a single Massachusetts 
monument to commemorate the heroic services of her sons 
should be placed in the St. Mihiel area. The majority of the 
Commission favors the point of the promontory upon which 
Hattonchattel is built, above the town of Vigneulles, the actual 
objective. General Logan would place the monument in the 
town of St. Mihiel, for reasons which he sets forth in his 
minority report following. 

Respectfully submitted, 

WALTER A. ROBINSON, Chairman. 
AXEL E. ZETTERMAN. 



HOUSE — No. 1372. 



[Mar. 



NOTE. 



St. Mihiel is situated on the Meuse River at the foot of 
limestone hills. It was founded twelve hundred years ago. 
It became a cathedral city, the church of which was made 
famous by the paintings and sculptures of the brothers Jean and 
Ligier Richier. It is connected by rail with Verdun, 18 miles 
to the north, and with Commercy, 10 miles to the south. 
Before the war it had several thousand inhabitants. 

Vigneulles is about 10 miles to the northwest of St. Mihiel 
over a good carriage road. It is reached by rail from Com- 
mercy, 14 miles to the south. This line taps the line from 
Verdun to Metz about 2 miles from the former city. The 
distance from Vigneulles to Verdun is 18 miles. 

Hattonchattel is at the end of the plateau overlooking 
Vigneulles. It is reached from Verdun directly by the Grande 
Tranchee de Colonne, a good road running along the ridge of 
the hills, a great part of the 18 miles being through the forest. 











Replace- 
ments. 


Total. 


From 
Massa- 
chusetts. 


Killed in Action. 


Wounded. 


Division. 


Num- 
ber. 


Per 

Cent. 


Num- 
ber. 


Per 
Cent. 


1, . . . . 


14,500 


42,500 


1,487 


71 


1.60 


335 


1.94 


2, 








14,000 


42,000 


3,129 


195 


4.35 


551 


3.10 


3, 








10,000 


38,000 


1,801 


66 


2,08 


342 


2.66 


4, 








7,000 


35,000 


2,736 


87 


3.33 


441 


4.48 


5. 








5,500 


33,500 


1,940 


40 


2.25 


243 


3.54 


0, 








3,400 


31,400 


597 


2 


.32 


11 


1.60 


7. 








600 


28,600 


506 


3 


1.00 


15 


1.10 


26, 








6,500 


34,500 


17,713 


435 


20.40 


3,864 


34.10 


27, 








4,000 


32,000 


208 


5 


.30 


26 


.35 


28. 








8,000 


36,000 


270 


9 


.35 


47 


.40 


29. 








2,500 


30,500 


73 


1 


.10 


6 


.14 


30. 








4,000 


32,000 


45 


1 


.06 


6 


.08 



N 



1921. 



HOUSE — No. 1372. 











Replace- 
ments. 


Total. 


From 

Massa- 
chusetts. 


KitLED IN Action. 


Wounded. 


DlYISION. 


Num- 
ber. 


Per 

Cent. 


Num- 
ber. 


Per 

Cent. 


32 


6,000 


34,000 


306 


10 


.30 


60 


.60 


37, 








3,000 


31,000 


146 


2 


.20 


11 


.27 


42, 








8,000 


36,000 


1,008 


30 


1.20 


181 


1.60 


77, 








6,500 


34,500 


2,449 


67 


3.30 


326 


3.80 


78, 








4,000 


32,000 


109 


2 


.14 


11 


.20 


79, 








3,000 


31,000 


930 


15 


1.00 


115 


2.00 


80, 








3,000 


31,000 


515 


12 


1.00 


33 


.66 


81, 








500 


28,500 


257 


2 


.80 


11 


.10 


82, 








4,000 


32,000 


6,976 


108 


8.50 


830 


13.30 


89, 








3,500 


31,500 


117 


3 


.20 


16 


.17 


90, 








3,500 


31,500 


50 


1 


.07 


6 


.10 


91, 








3,500 


31,500 


57 


1 


.07 


6 


.12 


Other divisions, 






1,350 


17 


1.80 


200 


2.70 


Unattached, 






4,000 


40 


1.00 


240 


1.20 










48,975 


1,225 




7,921 





10 HOUSE — No. 1372. Mar. 



MINORITY REPORT. 



Boston, Mass., March 15, 1921. 

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives. 

Gentlemen : — In the matter of the supplementary report 
submitted by this Commission, I am unable to agree with the 
recommendations made by the majority of the members of the 
Commission. 

For reasons which now do not need to be enumerated, I 
strongly recommend the erection in France of a memorial to 
commemorate the sacrifices made by Massachusetts citizens 
during the war. Most of the battle front was visited by the 
Commission during its visit to France and a number of sug- 
gested sites viewed. Places in France where important actions 
had been taken, and which, until reviewed, seemed not only of 
great importance but appropriate places for the erection of a 
monument, appeared to me unsuited when viewed during the 
visit of the Commission. 

If a monument is to be erected by the Commonwealth, it 
should be, in my opinion, not only of suitable design and worthy 
of the cause which it is to represent, but should be so located 
as to be connected with some notable achievement. It should 
also be so situated that it would be possible to be seen by 
citizens generally and particularly by citizens of IMassachusetts, 
who in course of time may visit the battlefields of Europe. 
Long before the Commission had begun its trip to Europe, two 
places in France seemed to me peculiarly appropriate for the 
erection of a monument: one, the heights of Hattonchattel; 
the other, the Etrepilly plateau. 

A visit in days of peace to both of these places and a con- 
sideration of the peace-time transportation facilities connected 
with both have made me believe that some other location was 
preferable to either of those which were originally in my mind 
and which have been since recommended by the majority of 
the members of this Commission. 



1921.] HOUSE — No. 1372. 11 

Etrepilly and its vicinity is a pretty country community 
miles from any railroad facilities, and although a scene of very 
important action, particularly on the part of the 52d Brigade 
of the 26th Division, seems to me entirely inappropriate for 
the erection of a memorial by the Commonwealth of Massachu- 
setts, because of its isolation, if only one monument is to be 
erected in France. 

Hattonchattel is likewise an isolated spot, but by no means 
as devoid of transportation facilities as is Etrepilly. It is not 
situated on a railroad line, and, though it is fitted by nature 
for the location of the monument, it seems sufficiently difficult 
of access to be not the best site upon which a substantial and 
stately memorial should be erected. 

I recommend, first, the erection in France of a suitable 
memorial to the men who died in the war, and further recom- 
mend the city of St. Mihiel as the place in which the memorial 
should be placed. I recommend St. Mihiel, first, because it 
holds the name of what has been and perhaps may be hereafter 
regarded as America's first great successful contribution in the 
war. The offensive in St. Mihiel was a peculiarly American 
offensive on the battlefield. In it a large amount of territory 
was rescued, a great number of prisoners captured, and artillery 
and machine guns in substantial amounts taken from the enemy. 
While the American losses in the St. Mihiel sector are by no 
means as great as those which were subsequently made in other 
parts of the line, yet the results which were accomplished by 
the St. Mihiel drive, considering the small loss of human life 
therein suffered, make it a great military success. I recom- 
mend it, secondly, because in this drive Massachusetts had an 
important part, not only in the 26th Division, which attacked 
from the northern part of the salient, but by reason of the great 
numbers of Massachusetts soldiers which were part of the 
American force attacking from the southerly part. I recom- 
mend it, thirdly, because it has the added endorsement made 
to the Commission itself by Marshal Foch and Marshal Joffre 
and the expressed preference of the acting secretary of war of 
France. 

EDWARD L. LOGAN. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

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